PIL demands removal of country's images from Google Earth

A PIL filed in the Bombay HC has taken exception to easy access to satellite images of the vital installations in the country through Google Earth.

A PIL filed in the Bombay High Court has taken exception to easy access to satellite images of the vital installations in the country through Google Earth.

The petition filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Amit Karkhanis has demanded removal of images of the country from Google Earth.

"In the alternative, I have demanded that at least the images of vital installations in the country be blocked," said Karkhanis.

"The petition is filed against the backdrop of terror attacks in Mumbai," he said. "Even images of nuclear plants and defence establishments are available on this site. It is a security hazard," he added.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on December 18.

Google Earth, a subsidiary of popular search website Google, is a US-based company. It has been made a party, along with Ministries of Defence, Science and Technology and Information Technology.

Google Earth provides satellite images of any location on the globe through its website.